While Nathan was busy with his plans, notable events were unfolding on the other side.

  After the Verdant Spire Sect disciples had settled into their rooms, other organizations either arrived or were arriving in succession. Everyone's convergence served a purpose: to conduct diplomacy and address any necessary matters, from minor to major, before the official event began.

  Verdant Spire Sect's first meeting was with Obsidian Fang Sect, their ally for over a hundred years. Elder Nalani arranged the meeting. However, she spent most of her time in a private office with the delegation leader from Obsidian Fang Sect. Whatever they discussed remained unknown to the disciples, who spent their time socializing and enjoying themselves at Ethereal Sanctum Resort.

  The soccer game in this world had undergone modifications. Instead of being played on an open flat surface like a grass field, the playing area was an oval-shaped space with walls built from durable, highly elastic materials. The ball could be propelled not only by normal foot power but also by the players' mana, creating chaotic and entertaining situations as it ricocheted off the arena walls.

  Verdant Spire Sect and Obsidian Fang Sect played against each other all day until the novelty wore off. The Obsidian Fang Sect wanted to meet Zeryn, but the young genius declined. He spent his time in meditation, cultivating insights gained from the Verdant Spire trial. Moreover, he was disheartened by Nathan's public dismissal. Thus, he had no desire to make an appearance before his fellow disciples.

  As for Zahra, she remained carefree. She participated in the matches with explosive energy and drew considerable attention. Her movement abilities and bloodline instincts made her a formidable opponent on the field. Xander, conversely, was awkward and rigid when trying this game. His Spear Intent, which should have been a secret weapon, became mere entertainment. Nevertheless, neither sect dared to mock him too much.

  The main event everyone anticipated came that evening: a gathering between the various sects.

  Ethereal Sanctum Resort, recognizing the significance of this gathering, spared no expense in renting additional floating platforms. Combined with their existing facilities, they created a venue that captured the attention of onlookers throughout the city.

  As night fell, even from afar, pedestrians could see a floating glass cube rotating slowly in the darkness, reflecting the city's lights. Spotlights were arranged around it to enhance its grandeur and uniqueness. The previous recreational areas were either pushed away or retracted underground, creating space to highlight this singular structure.

  The attention and investment this meeting received stemmed from its potential to shape future directions. Though not as crucial as the official gathering in the inner city at Duke Kael's castle, these external meetings still held significance. This was especially true while tensions between sects and organizations hadn't yet escalated before The Shifting Trials.

  Similar to Ethereal Sanctum Resort, other key venues would host comparable gatherings on subsequent evenings.

  As resort guests, the Verdant Spire Sect disciples were among the first to arrive. Besides Obsidian Fang Sect, Stormcrown Institute was also present. The three groups of disciples exchanged pleasantries and practiced their diplomatic skills as instructed by their superiors. Stormcrown Institute, not being allied with either faction, maintained a certain reserve.

  When the main banquet began, other factions arrived. First came the next generation of Maelivar's four great houses. The young masters and ladies wore luxurious, eye-catching attire that some considered gaudy, contrasting sharply with the unified appearance of the sects. They were accompanied by promising young talents from the city, presumably also participants in the upcoming event.

  The heirs quickly moved to acquaint themselves with the disciples. Whispers of discussion and the gentle clink of wine glasses filled the air.

  Zeryn, though reluctant to attend, greeted anyone who approached him with a cordial smile. He understood the importance of socializing with the elite class. Only through such interactions could one's opportunities for advancement truly increase. He skillfully took Emrys Merinor's hand, kissing it with practiced grace while flashing a charming smile.

  "Thank you for hosting this gathering for us," Zeryn's voice was warm, conveying genuine appreciation.

  Unlike other girls, Emrys smiled gently, her hand smoothing the purple dress adorned with gem-studded wave patterns from tail to chest as she curtseyed in response.

  "The honor belongs to House Merinor," she deflected credit from herself. "We only hope you find no cause for concern during your stay here."

  "Oh, not at all," Zeryn withdrew his hand, taking two wine glasses from a passing server and offering one to Emrys. "I can say the Resort's service is the finest I've experienced thus far."

  Emrys covered her mouth as she laughed. She swirled the wine in her glass once, using her gray eyes to assess her counterpart. While Zeryn's appearance here was somewhat casual, it was still captivating. However, she approached him for another reason.

  "I thought you'd be more particular, being one of the brightest talents here tonight."

  "You wrong me," Zeryn chuckled. "I'm confident in myself, yes. But not to that extent."

  "Is that so?" Emrys feigned innocence, though the information on PsiLink was enough to reveal certain aspects of this young man's character.

  Zeryn shot her a look of discomfort when she raised her glass to drink, blocking his view. A moment later, he had restored his normal expression.

  "Then you wouldn't refuse if I suggested discussing some matters with you?" Emrys tilted her head, allowing her expensive custom perfume to drift closer to Zeryn's nose.

  "Why would I be difficult about that?" Zeryn waved his hand, partly to disperse the overwhelming fragrance. "I'd be delighted."

  "Then please," Emrys set her wine glass on a nearby table, gesturing for Zeryn to follow her to a private room.

  Zeryn had, to some degree, also chosen to approach Emrys. He had caught her eye the moment she entered, hoping to attract her attention. He succeeded while she harbored similar intentions. Choosing House Merinor was partly due to their neutral stance, avoiding extreme factions. As a result, the information they could provide would be the most comprehensive, though perhaps not the most verified or effective. Nevertheless, Zeryn would handle the remaining verification himself. What he needed was direction, and House Merinor wasn't a bad choice for that.

  Similar situations played out in other areas. Houses Nyralith and Partheon each had their own targets. House Aetheris remained indifferent. The young master sent to this banquet was the sixth son of the family head, born to a concubine rather than the main wife, and thus received few resources. He was chosen simply because others didn't want to attend. Only Obsidian Fang Sect showed interest in approaching him.

  After their brief conversation, Emrys and Zeryn emerged from the private room, exchanging smiles before parting ways. The young lady had to continue receiving and networking with others. Zeryn found a seat, tugging at his collar wearily, inwardly lamenting how much less fun this was without Nathan. His friend, though prone to objections, would always go along with Zeryn's crazy schemes when asked.

  At this point, after several independent individuals had arrived, the major factions finally made their entrance.

  The disciples all turned to observe these groups who would become either future allies or enemies.

  Entering from the north door was a group of over ten disciples from The Living Metal Sect, wearing neat brown and black uniforms. They shared one common feature: thick vambraces on their arms. These were known to be their signature tools. The Living Metal Sect was one of the few organizations specializing in crafting, and surely their remaining disciples were engrossed in various locations throughout Maelivar city.

  Leading the group was Malik Ibrahim, with a thin frame and sunken eyes. Despite his seemingly weak appearance, he received cautious glances from over a hundred people who had arrived earlier at the banquet. This was because he was the famous genius known for fighting above his tier. The video showing him fighting to a draw against a Tier 3 cultivator continued to gain views without decline.

  At the east door, only one person entered. This sparked immediate discussion.

  "I thought The Burning Autumn Lodge announced they would send quite a few disciples?" a young man accompanying Lady Emrys spoke up.

  "They wouldn't be so arrogant as to snub us by not attending, would they?"

  "That's because the one who came is Adrian Kovács," Emrys coldly informed everyone.

  Sounds of understanding arose from the crowd.

  Adrian strode in laughing loudly, his voice full of arrogance.

  "Hello, weaklings."

  Yet no one spoke up. Not because they weren't annoyed at being addressed this way, but because they felt picking a fight with this bastard wasn't worth it.

  Adrian was insane. This was the consensus from available information. Never had an organization needed to spend so much money covering up their member's actions as The Burning Autumn Lodge had done for him. Currently, searching for information about this small youth yielded few results. However, warnings and negative reports about him still littered the forums, as long as they didn't mention his past.

  Emrys, as House Merinor's representative, felt obligated to step forward and say something.

  "Adrian, I hope you'll show some restraint at this gathering."

  Adrian exhaled sharply, looking up at the girl who was a head taller than him, wrinkling his nose in displeasure.

  "Beautiful sister," his voice mocking, "you reek. Want me to burn some of that off?"

  Emrys's face hardened, her eyes growing sharp.

  Seeing this, Adrian raised both hands in surrender.

  "Just joking, why so tense? Have you all lost your sense of humor?"

  With that, Adrian slipped past her into the banquet.

  He was even thinner than Malik. However, while Malik's gauntness seemed to come from lack of sleep, Adrian's thinness carried a more frightening aspect. He looked as if he had been wrung dry. The skin around his face bore ugly wrinkles, evidence that he had once been healthy. People could only guess this resulted from the terrifying events he had caused.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Adrian ignored the scrutinizing looks, heading straight to the food table, grabbing a mountain of dishes in the most unrefined manner before carrying his tower of plates to an empty seat. After that, people only heard constant munching from that direction. Everyone just shook their heads and ignored him, wondering how someone could eat so much yet remain so thin. They weren't sure whether to admire this or not.

  The western entrance welcomed disciples from Azure Lake Academy. If Nathan were here, he would recognize their leader, Reza Karimi. Beside him was Callum. And of course, Evelyn was present. She looked somewhat different from when she met Nathan in Moirath Forest. Notably, the change was still ongoing rather than complete. Her skin bore snow-white marks, occasionally showing iridescent scale-like patches that shimmered with various colors when light struck them.

  Unfortunately for Reza, all attention focused on Evelyn. The team leader, realizing this, didn't seem too bothered. As long as it was Evelyn, he was fine with it.

  "That girl gives off the same feeling as Nathan," Zahra commented to Zeryn, showing interest for the first time since the banquet began.

  "How so?" Zeryn asked curiously. He was different from his usual self, not paying much attention to Evelyn, as if waiting for someone else.

  "Bloodline thingy," Zahra shrugged. "The aura she emits keeps growing stronger."

  "What kind of aura? Delicious like Nathan?" Zeryn teased.

  Zahra laughed loudly.

  "More like the aura of a rival."

  "A rival for Nathan?" Zeryn wouldn't let up.

  Zahra patted his shoulder.

  "Is he worth it?"

  With that, she returned to her food and drink.

  Zeryn observed the students from Azure Lake Academy. At first glance, truly no one emanated the same oppressive feeling as the blue-haired girl. Like Keira, she exuded an inexplicable authority.

  Evelyn, not particularly in the mood to participate, brightened when her teammate mentioned the Verdant Spire Sect disciples' presence. She immediately looked in that direction, searching. Unfortunately, she didn't see that disciple anywhere. She silently thought he must not have earned a slot to attend. Without dwelling on it further, she followed her friends forward.

  Zeryn caught the sweeping gaze of this captivating girl, who outshone even Emrys despite her simple attire. He was certain she had been looking for someone from his sect. He tried to recall but couldn't think of anyone who had deep connections with Azure Lake Academy.

  The fourth group entering from the south door interrupted his train of thought. Zeryn's relaxed posture immediately stiffened, his eyes growing serious. The person he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

  The delegation from The Resonating Blade School was modest, arriving with only six people. However, they drew the most attention. This was simply because the team leader, Sigrid Bergstr?m, carried a honored sword. Or more accurately, an official replica of it – the Resonating Blade, from which the school took its name.

  Honored swords or any weapons with far-reaching reputations would be respected and listed among the most powerful weapons. The Resonating Blade was on this list, at least in the past, until it was broken. No one knew exactly how this happened. People could only speculate that it must have been during some epic battle between Tier 8 and Tier 9 cultivators.

  The replica sword lay in a seemingly simple leather scabbard inscribed with various ancient languages, drawing everyone's attention. Though a reproduction, it was said to be more precious than Tier 4 blades. The main reason was that a portion of the sword soul from the broken blade had been transferred to this replica.

  An honored sword couldn't exist without a sword soul, its own will. Though this soul had been broken, it remained far more powerful than other weapons. For it had once been the emperor among emperor weapons. Even in its fallen state, it still commanded respect from lesser beings.

  With the appearance of The Resonating Blade, disciples carrying weapons felt embarrassed and discretely stored them in their spatial rings, avoiding loss of face.

  "Thieves," Zeryn whispered through clenched teeth.

  His gaze locked onto Sigrid. The red-haired girl, sensing the hostility, looked up to see who it was. Upon seeing Zeryn, her eyebrows furrowed. She didn't understand why she was receiving such negativity, but she knew this was a formidable opponent. The headmaster had warned her to watch out for this handsome young man. He was one of the most dangerous individuals who might appear here. Not for any other reason than his Sword Intent far surpassing his peers. Nevertheless, she glared back without fear. With the Resonating Blade in hand, she had nothing to fear.

  The sword in her hand trembled as if sensing her emotions. It released its will to assist her. In the air, invisible to all, a formless thrust formed.

  Zeryn groaned as his eyes felt like they were being split in two. Blood trickled from the corners of his eyes.

  Zahra quickly stood to support him, asking worriedly.

  "What's wrong, Zeryn?"

  "Nothing."

  "Nothing doesn't make you bleed. Who dared to attack here?"

  The pain prevented Zeryn from saying more. He took a deep breath, letting his Sword Intent rise, cutting through the force emanating from the Resonating Blade. When he opened his eyes, though lined with red streaks, they held a sharpness that seemed almost tangible.

  Sigrid barely had time to secretly rejoice in her successful retaliation before she was forced to step back. She blinked in disbelief at what had just happened. About to urge a counterattack, she noticed something strange about the sword in her hand. It had become unusually docile, no longer vibrating. It had admitted defeat. She looked back at Zeryn's smirking face, secretly terrified of his power.

  No one knew that in just a few seconds, there had been an exchange between two geniuses from both sides. The group only thought Sigrid stood there to observe, unaware of what had transpired. She tilted her head away, accepting her defeat, silently vowing to directly defeat Zeryn in the upcoming event.

  Watching the group from The Resonating Blade School walk in the opposite direction, Zeryn shook his head to regain his composure. His eyes still ached but it wasn't too serious. Only he understood why he had been able to counter-attack and silence that sword.

  While resting, he noticed commotion nearby and finally paid attention to the last group of disciples arriving. Wearing dark blue uniforms like the night sky, the disciples of The Thousand Stars Pavilion entered with uniformly arrogant expressions. Upon seeing them, most people had to be cordial, showing even more respect than they had to The Resonating Blade School. This was because they were the only organization with a Tier 6 leader among all participating parties. For comparison, the Kingdom of Caelindor's highest was only Tier 5, similar to surrounding powers. This had created a bad habit among these disciples of looking down on others. Anyone who was dissatisfied could only swallow their pride. These disciples were the Pavilion's future, and the possibility of being punished by a Tier 6 cultivator when things went wrong was not small.

  Things became even worse when these people directed murderous intent toward the Obsidian Fang Sect disciples, allies of Verdant Spire Sect.

  Emrys, seeing the situation deteriorating, stepped forward to mediate, hoping things wouldn't escalate further on her family's territory.

  "Welcome, Jingyi. Everyone has been waiting long to meet the disciples from The Thousand Stars Pavilion."

  "Really?" Jingyi, with her pitch-black hair, gave a slight laugh. "I only feel hostility since stepping in here. Perhaps I should leave and wait for House Aetheris's party instead? They surely wouldn't invite trash to attend."

  Emrys struggled to keep her face from twisting at this insult, maintaining her smile.

  "Well?" Jingyi still wouldn't let up. "Give me an answer."

  "Everyone can be friendly," Emrys calmly said. "Why don't we all have a drink, eat something, and have a little talk?"

  "Hmph."

  Jingyi ignored her suggestion, tilting her head to look at the Obsidian Fang Sect group. The targeted disciples felt like they'd fallen into an ice pit under that threatening gaze.

  Then Jingyi turned, about to leave.

  Emrys stepped forward, hoping to stop her.

  "Everyone..."

  "Shut your mouth," Jingyi snapped. "We won't stay where we're not respected."

  With that, Jingyi led her entire group away.

  Emrys froze completely, her face turning pale beneath her makeup. She lacked the strength to even feel angry as she realized she might have handled this situation poorly.

  This turn of events left many people unsure how to proceed. They ultimately chose to leave.

  The Living Metal Sect and Stormcrown Institute left first. Sigrid, still shaken by the sword in her hand, didn't object when her teammates suggested leaving. Only Azure Lake Academy remained unchanged from start to finish, never once showing surprise or caution toward anyone. They stayed, continuing to socialize.

  Adrian from The Burning Autumn Lodge remained equally unconcerned. He hadn't stopped eating once since the beginning.

  The sickly young master from House Aetheris smirked once, then didn't stay much longer. Though looked down upon at home for being less capable than his siblings, he still maintained the inherent pride of a noble. He might be insulted at home, but outside he absolutely had to show that he stood above others.

  Laurent Nyralith was present like other Artificers, focused solely on their discussions. Losing The Living Metal Sect affected their mood slightly as they lost one side of the debate. That was all there was to it. Laurent had tried to find Nathan but without success. He didn't pay it much mind, remaining focused on listening to everyone's sharing.

  House Partheon, having lost their main target Jingyi, lingered only long enough to save face for House Merinor before departing some time later.

  This event left Emrys Merinor silent in a corner. The welcome speech and various prepared games and gifts were essentially wasted. With the current situation, House Merinor would likely be the subject of mockery across PsiLink throughout the night and the next day. The consequences, whether good or bad, were mostly clear.

  One should not offend those more powerful than oneself.

  Zeryn observed everything with an indifferent attitude. These power plays by young people were just surface-level theater – the truly concerning ones were the powerful figures standing behind them. For it only took a thought from them to truly make others afraid.

  As for Verdant Spire Sect, The Thousand Stars Pavilion wasn't yet enough to be considered a threat. That was what he knew from his sources.

  While people were buzzing with discussion about last night's meeting of promising young talents, Nathan was busy in the kitchen.

  Though the plan had been approved, he still needed to prepare several dishes. Ingredients frequently came and went under Celene's supervision. She watched entranced as Nathan demonstrated his skills. The young chef's movements and demeanor truly mesmerized others. Most importantly, she could wait to sample whatever dishes Nathan felt inspired to cook.

  As evening approached, Celene received a notification from senior management and immediately informed Nathan.

  Nathan turned off the stove, his eyes scanning around. He truly liked having a kitchen like this to himself. Best would be if he could stuff it into a storage ring and take it out whenever he wanted. If life ever got too difficult, he could choose to both travel everywhere and be a nomadic chef – not a bad idea at all.

  He stepped out to face Celene, receiving the information package via PsiLink. The results made him frown, somewhat dampening his spirits. Only six people would attend, half of the initial target of twelve.

  "It's because manager Robert didn't actively network," Celene explained.

  "Even though he would profit from commission if he fulfilled his responsibilities?" Nathan asked.

  Celene fidgeted with her fingers, choosing her words carefully.

  "On the surface, he claims he tried his best. But Robert is the manager who brings the most profit to The Amber Path Coalition. So unless he deliberately influenced this result, it's unlikely he couldn't bring even one person."

  "And if he had actually done his job, how many people would you estimate he could have brought?"

  "At least two, at most four."

  That many? Nathan was secretly surprised.

  However, he didn't regret his previous actions at all. He needed to let others know where his boundaries lay rather than continue being cautious. Even if that came with a price to pay.

  "Did you deliver today's food to my friend Zeryn?" Nathan asked.

  "Already done," Celene answered, wondering if this was really the focus.

  "That's good then," Nathan nodded. "Do you have any insights about the current situation?"

  Celene tilted her head in thought, partly surprised by Nathan's calmness today. He seemed somewhat different from two days ago.

  An idea flashed in her mind, but she bit her lip, unsure whether to speak.

  "Just say it directly, I won't blame you."

  Celene steeled herself, straightening up, and spoke.

  "Forgive my directness, but with this guest list, don't expect to gain the reputation you want."

  "What do you mean?" Nathan asked without taking offense.

  "We need to elevate the discussion level of tonight's dinner. One way or another."

  "You're talking about dirty marketing?"

  Celene, excited to show her expertise, suddenly choked up, only able to nod.

  "Currently, the hot topic is last night's young talents' gathering in Maelivar city," she explained. "So to overcome this topic, you not only need to use your skills and unique dishes to attract attention, but you also need to create discussions, both positive and negative."

  "You already have someone in mind?"

  "Yes," Celene tapped her lips, looking worried. "But it could push things toward either the worst or best outcome. The focus is that it will be very costly."

  "I'll handle the money," Nathan said calmly.

  "It's not about money, but owing favors."

  Nathan nodded in understanding. Money wasn't everything; sometimes what people wanted was a promise of repayment when things went wrong.

  "It's fine," Celene exhaled to steady herself. "I'm willing to pay this price."

  Before leaving, she reminded Nathan.

  "I just hope you'll truly consider taking me as your follower. During the time before I actually bring that person here, please extend the duration as long as possible."

  With that, she rushed off, delegating someone else to guide Nathan.

  He chuckled at Celene's determination. If everything went smoothly, he would seriously consider her proposal.

  He changed into his chef's uniform, which bore both the Verdant Spire Sect and The Amber Path Coalition emblems embroidered on the chest.

  Zeryn messaged him on PsiLink as he was heading out.

  "Your help is on the way."

  Smiling, Nathan felt more confident.

  Whatever today's outcome might be, he had already tried his best.

  Have a great weekend, my beloved readers!